Pantalone
Pantalone also known as Pantaloon and also refereed to as veechi, meaning old menis a Commedia Dell'arte stock character. Pantaloon is the constant and vital character in the plot of Commedia Dell'arte. He is described as "Venetian merchant that controls finance in the character world of Commedia Dell'arte, because of his status, "his orders are usually obeyed". He is a member of the upper class thus well educated and speaks with authority
Old but athletic, Pantaloon plays the ideal counterpart of an Harlequin always without money, the Zanni, poor immigrant always hungry, Brighella , and countless other characters.
Pantaloon’s actions are described more negative than positive; he is always the obstacle for the lovers to get around . He is an arrogant and cowardly bully. Ducharte describes Pantaloon’s personality “as old as mankind”. Pantaloon’s character is always from Venice and his wardrobe also represents his Venetian background. His character is always old and retired. Pantaloon’s character can be rich, poor, the father of a family, and an old bachelor.
This character is lean and skinny, often short in height with straying hair. He is often in formal stance or in violent action. Although he appears to be fragile and old he is actually very quick and sly.
John Rudlin describes Pantaloon’s back “bending the other way to the Zannis, giving him an old man’s stoop, protecting his purse and effectively restricting the motion of his legs. His feet are together, toes separate; knees are bent and facing apart creating a focus on the crutch. Pantaloon’s stance is beneficial, because it allows him to make large strides and allows him to be constantly watchful. When he is not standing, he is in energetic movement. Pantaloon cannot keep his hands to himself so they, move continuously. His constant hand movement allows him to effortlessly defend himself.
This character wore a dark brown mask with a hooked protruding nose and, on some occasion, he wears round spectacles. Pantaloon eyebrows were also grey and bushy. His facial hair included a moustache that was thin and pointy and a white beard stretched from ear to ear, meeting his nose. "This was so that the tufts shook ludicrously as soon as Pantaloon began to talk” (Ducharte 188). There are different variations of Pantaloon’s mask, some include the beard and others do not include a beard.
Old but athletic, Pantaloon plays the ideal counterpart of an Harlequin always without money, the Zanni, poor immigrant always hungry, Brighella , and countless other characters.
Pantaloon’s actions are described more negative than positive; he is always the obstacle for the lovers to get around . He is an arrogant and cowardly bully. Ducharte describes Pantaloon’s personality “as old as mankind”. Pantaloon’s character is always from Venice and his wardrobe also represents his Venetian background. His character is always old and retired. Pantaloon’s character can be rich, poor, the father of a family, and an old bachelor.
This character is lean and skinny, often short in height with straying hair. He is often in formal stance or in violent action. Although he appears to be fragile and old he is actually very quick and sly.
John Rudlin describes Pantaloon’s back “bending the other way to the Zannis, giving him an old man’s stoop, protecting his purse and effectively restricting the motion of his legs. His feet are together, toes separate; knees are bent and facing apart creating a focus on the crutch. Pantaloon’s stance is beneficial, because it allows him to make large strides and allows him to be constantly watchful. When he is not standing, he is in energetic movement. Pantaloon cannot keep his hands to himself so they, move continuously. His constant hand movement allows him to effortlessly defend himself.
This character wore a dark brown mask with a hooked protruding nose and, on some occasion, he wears round spectacles. Pantaloon eyebrows were also grey and bushy. His facial hair included a moustache that was thin and pointy and a white beard stretched from ear to ear, meeting his nose. "This was so that the tufts shook ludicrously as soon as Pantaloon began to talk” (Ducharte 188). There are different variations of Pantaloon’s mask, some include the beard and others do not include a beard.